1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
91
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
8
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
The 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO has received a total of 91 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 8 technical service bulletins have been issued by Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspensionfront (8 complaints), Suspension (6 complaints), and Unknown Or Other (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO, potentially affecting up to 240,598 vehicles.
Recall 20V035000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 18,123 vehicles affected
Defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-001.
View full details →Recall 98V220000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 61,800 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINES CAN DEVELOP PIN HOLES DUE TO CHAFFING AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE IN THE INNER FENDER.
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAK RESULTING IN DETERIORATED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE INDICATOR LAMP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FOR SIGNS OF WEAR AND ROUTING. IF THE LINES ARE NOT CORRECTLY CENTERED IN THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE, THE LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED BY BENDING SLIGHTLY TO CORRECT. IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF BRAKE...
View full details →Recall 98V205000 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
| 60,243 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSORY CARGO MATS IN THE THIRD-SEAT AND CARGO AREA. THIS CARGO MAT INTERFERES WITH THE LATCHING INTEGRITY OF THE FOLDING THIRD SEATS.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT OF THE THIRD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD-SEAT LATCH AND STRIKER. A RECTANGLE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CARGO MAT AROUND EACH STRIKER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRIKER CLEARANCE AND PROPER LATCHING.
View full details →Recall 04V428000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 100,432 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
91 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
AT THE MOMENT THE ONLY SITUATION THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE MITSUBISHI AIRBAG RECALL IS THAT WHEN I CALL THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, THAT SUPPOSEDLY THE MITSUBISHI COMPANY HAS NOT YET SENT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS.....I HAVE TO CALL WITHIN 2 MONTHS TO SEE IF THE PARTS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE REPAIR SHOPS.
AT THE MOMENT THE ONLY SITUATION THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE MITSUBISHI AIRBAG RECALL IS THAT WHEN I CALL THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, THAT SUPPOSEDLY THE MITSUBISHI COMPANY HAS NOT YET SENT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS.....I HAVE TO CALL WITHIN 2 MONTHS TO SEE IF THE PARTS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE REPAIR SHOPS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V035000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHSIDE MITSUBISHI IN ORLANDO AND BECAUSE A MECHANIC NAMED BOB WHO'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS SAYS IT'S THE ORIGINAL BUT IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL BOLT THEY DON'T WANT TO HONOR THE RECALL I ARGUED WITH THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.. THE ORIGINAL BOLT IS ME203072, AND THE MONTERO HAS THE SAME BOLT AS THE PAJERO . THIS VEHICLE WITH VIN [XXX] HAD THE BOLT SNAP OFF..IF IT WAS ALREADY FIXED LIKE SOUTHSIDE MITSUBISHI SAID IT SHOULDN'T HAVE SNAPPED. THEY REPEATEDLY DO NOT WANT TO GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER AND KEEP TRANSFERRING THE PHONE AROUND. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR, STRONGER WHEN I OPEN THE BACK REAR LUGGAGE AREA AND REAR OF MONTERO (CLOSEST TO THE GAS FUEL TANK UNDERNEATH). I DO NOT SEE ANY ACTIVE LEAK ON THE FLOOR. MY CAR HAS NO DAMAGE, SUCH AS BEING REAR ENDED OR BUMPER DAMAGE AT ALL. THE TANK MAY BE DEFECTIVE OR VAPORIZING INTO INTERIOR OF CAR.
Safety Rating for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. has issued 8 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SR-20-001REV3 — AIR BAGS
This is a revised Safety Recall bulletin sent to dealers informing them of new Takata inflator return procedures.
0213020 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
NEW AND REVISED INFORMATION RELATING TO READINESS TEST STATUS DESCRIPTIONS AND PROCEDURES. *TT
TSB9854007 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
ADDITION OF FOG LIGHT RELAY. *YC
9851003 — STRUCTURE:BODY
SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE PAINT PEELING FROM THE ROOF RACK SURFACE. *YC
9823013 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A/T DTCS 29-32 SET CONDITIONS SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. YD
TSB9852B001 — STRUCTURE:BODY
REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR REPAIRING POOR-FITTING PASSENGER SIDE SRS AIR BAG COVERS. *YC
TSB9852A001 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON SOME VEHICLES THE EDGE OF THE SURFACE SKIN ON THE DRIVER'S KNEE PROTECTOR IS PEELING. *YC
TSB9851001 — STRUCTURE:BODY
SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE GAPPING BETWEEN THE REAR MUD GUARD AND THE REAR FENDER. *YC
NHTSA Investigations for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO.
Other Model Years of the MITSUBISHI MONTERO
- 1993 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 17 complaints
- 1994 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 35 complaints
- 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 106 complaints
- 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 40 complaints
- 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 85 complaints
- 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO (current)
- 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 47 complaints
- 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 68 complaints
- 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 213 complaints
- 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 132 complaints
- 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 53 complaints
Other MITSUBISHI Models
- MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 2,784 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI GALANT — 2,429 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER — 1,776 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI LANCER — 1,136 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI MIRAGE — 940 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT — 708 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE — 657 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI 3000GT — 535 total complaints